Sunday, July 27, 2014

NBA HISTORY: STATISTICS ABOUT THE MOST EFFICIENT 3-PT FIELD GOAL % SCORERS IN THE REGULAR SEASON.

Most impressive records in NBA history about efficient scorers in regular season: the best 3-PT Field Goal % scorers.

This is the fourth part of a series of articles about historical records on the major statistics in NBA history (points, assists, rebounds…) while looking at which current player could eventually challenge these records along  his career.
In the three previous articles we looked at the most global efficient scorers and records in points in the NBA history. We saw that Steve Nash was the current leader in term of global efficiency (2Pt %, 3Pt % & FT%) while Kevin Durant was in a position to challenge some records over his career as well as in terms of global efficiency (see the article) as in points (see the article). Finally, regarding the most efficient players in term of 2 points field goal % (link to the article), we found some of the most powerful and best ever players of the NBA history (Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lebron James; see the articles about the G.O.A.T).
Today, we continue to focus on the most efficient scorers: the best 3-PT Field Goal Pct shooters (available since the 1979-80 season in the NBA).


A. RECORDS IN SCORING EFFICIENCY.
Firstly, I looked at the most absolute efficient players in 3 points field goal % during a season (with a minimum of 82 3-Pt Field Goal Attempts per season; or 1 per game).
In the history of the NBA, only 6 players have reached at least (a) 50% in term of 3 Pt % over a season. Steve Kerr is the leader with 3 seasons.

a. In the regular season; from 1946-47 to 2013-14; requiring 3-Pt Field Goal Pct >= 0.5 and 3-Pt Field Goal Attempts >= 82; sorted by most seasons matching criteria.
Rk
Player
From
To
Count
1
1990
1996
3
2
Jason Kapono
2007
2007
1
2
Kyle Korver
2010
2010
1
2
Tim Legler
1996
1996
1
2
Detlef Schrempf
1995
1995
1
2
Jon Sundvold
1989
1989
1

Secondly, I looked at the most regular efficient players in 3 points field goal % per season with at least 40% (always with a minimum of 82 3-Pt Field Goal Attempts per season; or 1 per game). 
It’s no surprise to find two categories of players within this screening (b). On the one hand, we can find among the best all-around and well known excellent shooters/players (Steve Nash is the leader with 13 seasons, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Peja Stojakovic, John Stockton, Larry Bird and Chris Mullin). On the other hand, there are players whose job is/was only to take 3Pt: Mike Miller, Brent Barry, Kyle Korver, Matt Bonner and Steve Kerr.

b. In the regular season; from 1946-47 to 2013-14; requiring 3-Pt Field Goal Pct >= 0.4 and 3-Pt Field Goal Attempts >= 82; sorted by most seasons matching criteria. (the full statistic with this link).
Rk
Player
From
To
Count
1
1998
2013
13
2
1989
2004
10
3
Dell Curry
1992
2001
9
4
Mike Miller
2001
2014
9
5
2000
2013
8
6
Dana Barros
1992
2001
8
7
Brent Barry
1996
2008
8
8
Hubert Davis
1994
2002
8
9
Dale Ellis
1988
1999
8
10
Kyle Korver
2005
2014
8
11
Wesley Person
1995
2005
8
12
2001
2011
8
13
Matt Bonner
2005
2014
7
14
Ben Gordon
2005
2012
7
15
Jeff Hornacek
1990
2000
7
16
1990
2001
7
17
1980
1992
6
18
Hersey Hawkins
1989
1998
6
19
Steve Kerr
1990
1998
6
20
1993
2000
6
21
Terry Porter
1991
2002
6
22
Wally Szczerbiak
2002
2009
6



B. RECORDS.
Here all the records about 3 points in NBA history during the regular season. 
Among active players, Stephen Curry and Kyle Korver are two players that could challenge some records in these categories over their career.

Most seasons leading league, 3-pt field goal percentage

2
2
2

 

Most consecutive seasons leading league, 3-pt field goal percentage

2
2006-07—2007-08

 

Highest 3-pt field goal percentage, career

.4540
.4463
.4409

 

Highest 3-pt field goal percentage, season

.5364
.5235
.5224

 

Highest 3-pt field goal percentage, rookie, season

.4674
.4595
.4390

 

Most 3-point field goals made, no misses, game

9
9
9

 

Most 3-point field goal attempts, none made, game

11
10
10
10
10
10
10
10

 

Most seasons leading league, 3-pt field goals

3
2
2
2
2
2
2

 

Most consecutive seasons leading league, 3-pt field goals

2
1983-84—1984-85
2
1985-86—1986-87
2
1988-89—1989-90
2
1990-91—1991-92
2
1992-93—1993-94
2
2001-02—2002-03

 

Most 3-pt field goals, career

2857
2560
1988

 

Most 3-pt field goals, season

272
269
267

 

Most 3-pt field goals, rookie, season

185
166
159

 

Most 3-pt field goals, game

12
12
11
11
11
11

 

Most consecutive games, 3-point field goal made

89
79
78

 

Most 3-point field goals, one half

9
1st Half
8
2nd Half
8
2nd Half
8
2nd Half
8
1st Half
8
1st Half
8
2nd Half
8
2nd Half
8
2nd Half
8
2nd Half

 

Most 3-point field goals, one quarter

8
4th Qtr.
7

7

7

7
4th Qtr.
7
4th Qtr.
7
4th Qtr.
7
3rd Qtr.
7
2nd Qtr.
7
1st Qtr.
           
COMING SOON: PART 4: THE G.O.A.T of the 90's... 

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